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The Grammy-winning rapper Kanye West drew a crowd of 118,000 to Istanbul's Atatürk Olympic Stadium on Saturday, setting a new record for the largest stadium concert attendance in history.
The concert began at 9 p.m. local time (GMT+3) and drew fans from across Türkiye and abroad, including visitors from Russia, Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States and Poland.
West's appearance drew intense interest in the days leading up to the event, culminating in one of the largest crowds seen at the venue.
Drone footage captured the scale of the gathering as tens of thousands packed the stadium. The artist emerged on a specially constructed platform, while synchronized lighting effects lit up the arena and marked the start of the performance.
Images of the opening moments quickly spread across social media, where clips from the concert gained widespread attention.
West's concert evolved into an all-night entertainment event featuring DJ sets, laser and light shows, pre- and after-party gatherings, and performances by Turkish artists. Rapper Travis Scott also joined the event, adding to a lineup that helped turn the concert into an all-night festival-style gathering.
The massive turnout led to congestion across parts of Istanbul as fans headed to Ataturk Olympic Stadium ahead of the concert.
Organizers opened stadium gates at 3 p.m. to ease entry and manage the expected influx of concertgoers ahead of the show.
As showtime neared, thousands packed metro stations across the city, with the M9 Atakoy–Olimpiyat line seeing the heaviest crowds as platforms and corridors quickly filled.
Officials warned that similar congestion could occur after the show as attendees left the venue.
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